**Update: More about this now posted at Barry’s Blog.** KishHealth System officials answered questions from the public following a presentation before the DeKalb County Board last night. While the Daily Chronicle chose not to address an exchange regarding who owns the real estate where Kishwaukee Hospital operates (as well as other KishHealth System holdings acquired…
Category: Community Resources
About Northwestern’s Desire to Acquire KishHealth
I want to thank the DeKalb County Citizens for Better Mental Health Care (CBMH) for keeping abreast of these developments and getting the word out. In fact, if it weren’t for the ad hoc CBMH, there wouldn’t even have been a public hearing on the matter; hearings are not automatic and must be requested of…
A Closer Look at DeKalb’s Hotel/Motel Inspection Ordinance
As indicated a few days ago, I have concerns about DeKalb’s hotel/motel inspection and licensing ordinance. The good news is, the city does recognize that some people are permanent residents of hotels and motels. “Permanent resident” means any person who occupied or has the right to occupy any room or rooms in a hotel or…
An Email Conversation with Mayor Rey about Hope Haven and the Travel Inn Closure
Originally, I had no plans to publish this email exchange. It was just me as Joan Q. Public, sending an opinion on a budget allocation to His Honor and to other DeKalb city council members I thought might be receptive. I expected a generic “thanks for the input” response, which would have been fine. But…
City of DeKalb Might Have a Warming Center
Last Saturday on Facebook, I crafted a “status” asking where the City of DeKalb warming centers are. There was nothing on the city’s website or Facebook page about them, and the last council agenda seemed to have dispensed with the idea entirely. Warming Centers One of the current challenges faced with the moving of the…
Another Example of DeKalb’s Business Friendliness
Remember this, from our financial consultants last April? [I]f you survey potential businesses, would they consider DeKalb business friendly? I don’t know the answer to that question. We have heard anecdotal evidence; some say that DeKalb is one of the most business-unfriendly cities they’ve ever encountered. Well, if that’s the case, economic development will be…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Proclamation
Among the presentations at Monday’s council meeting was a certificate of appreciation given to DeKalb’s team members in the America in Bloom beauty contest a couple weeks ago (see p. 5). With the exception of the Master Gardeners, the list represents a love-in between bureaucrats plus a business that has managed to get the city…
Write-In Candidates in DeKalb County So Far
*Update: Final list of candidates is here.* In the article, “DeKalb County Certifies Preliminary Ballot,” the county clerk stated that there are about six people who have filed as write-in candidates in April’s Consolidated Election so far. As of 9:30 a.m. today there were indeed exactly six: Michael Franckowiak – Genoa Park Board Veronica Bruhl…
Something Odd About the Public Library Construction Grant Program
Because the local library applied for a state construction grant in 2012, I decided to read up on these grants. One result of the research is doubt that all the money from a new library grant “pot” has all gone to libraries — but I am having a difficult time finding out for sure. This…
Park District Wants to Fix the Pool with Its “Revolving Credit Line”
In a story that appears to be designed to make us feel ashamed about questioning the destruction of recreation space that has become important to the community (I’ll comment further on the land swap deal another time), the Chronicle drops in this tidbit: About that pool: Although the DeKalb Park District won’t be building the…